World Bank Document

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized THE URBAN REHABILITATION OF MEDINAS The World Bank Experience in the Middle East and North Africa Public Disclosure Authorized THE OF The World Bank Experience in the Middle East and North Africa Anthony G. Bigio Senior Urban Specialist Urban and Social Development Unit Middle East and North Africa Guido Licciardi Junior Professional Officer Urban Development and Local Government Unit Sustainable Development Network May 2010, No. 9 Urban Development Series Produced by the World Bank’s Urban Development and Local Government Unit of the Sustainable Development Network, the Urban Development Series discusses the challenge of urbanization and what it will mean for developing countries in the decades ahead. The Series aims to explore and delve more substantively into the core issues framed by the World Bank’s 2009 Urban Strategy Systems of Cities: Harnessing Urbanization for Growth and Poverty Alleviation. Across the five domains of the Urban Strategy, the Series provides a focal point for publications that seek to foster a better understanding of (i) the core elements of the city system, (ii) pro-poor policies, (iii) city economies, (iv) urban land and housing markets, (v) sustainable urban environment, and other urban issues germane to the urban development agenda for sustainable cities and communities. © 2010 THE WORLD BANK An initial version of this paper was presented at the Medinas 2030 conference organized by FEMIP and the European Investment Bank which took place in Marseilles, France, on October 8–9, 2009. The statements, findings, and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors only, and do not reflect the view of the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank, or of the governments they represent. The photo on the cover depicts the medina of Sousse (Tunisia) and its kasbah, or fortified town. THE URBAN REHABILITATION OF MEDINAS Table of Contents FIG. 1 Traditional urban reservoir in the heart Foreword v of Hababa (Yemen), storing a precious 1. Summary 1 urban resource 2. Significance and decay of medinas in the Arab world 2 3. Defining contemporary medina users 4 4. Objectives of medina rehabilitation 6 5. Winners and losers in medina rehabilitation 9 6. Roles of the public, private, and non-profit sectors 11 7. Institutional framework and urban management 12 8. Urban planning and property titling 15 9. Cultural preservation, public space, and infrastructure upgrading 17 10. Pro-poor housing and welfare programs 20 11. Fiscal and financial mechanisms to promote private investments 24 12. Cultural tourism and the Medina Tourism Potential Index 27 References 29 THE URBAN REHABILITATION OF MEDINAS Foreword How can cultural heritage support economic # FIG. 2 development? This monograph—under the Major cultural heritage $ % & assets and historic Urban Development Series—examines the urban neighborhoods role of cultural heritage in creating livelihoods, are present in Fez in reviving communities, and in establishing ! (Morocco) identities. It focuses on the Middle East and North Africa and on the benefits gained from historic centers—or medinas—being revital- ized and rehabilitated. '()* !a +,' # -+*. // 0 12, 3 '') -'** ') 0 !a # 12+ 4 # & a # ! vi URBAN DEVELOPMENT SERIES – KNOWLEDGE PAPERS # ! ' ! T +**' !X6 7 8 3 9 a ! 4 : ; <9= ! 9 6 7 8 9 & ! 3 & a ! 3 & a 6 1; @ A 1 8 ; 8 ! # 6 7 8 9 3 6 # <-0 1 ; 1 & & 6 7 8 9 ! $ > -0 T T ' 3 A +*** a ! 3 = # ! 3 & +*'* A < # a 3= 3 a 3 # ! THE URBAN REHABILITATION OF MEDINAS 1 Summary 3 ! # # @ B 6 3 T T C !DA&9 6 7 8 9 ! ! 3 a 3 <-0 >-0 ! > -0 # # # 3 = a a & ! a 9 3 a a a a 6 FIG. 3 The thriving medina of Moulay Driss Zerhoun (Morocco), attracting pilgrims to its sanctuary 2 URBAN DEVELOPMENT SERIES – KNOWLEDGE PAPERS Significance and decay of medinas in the Arab world 9 $ $ ! 6 & b 3 ! b $ ! 9 FIG. 4 Medinas are endowed with a rich and diverse & Traditional cultural heritage; however, in the last fifty neighborhoods in Sana’a (Yemen), years they have suffered a steady decay across showing very compact the Middle East and North Africa. and ornate residential 3 buildings 6 8 9 6 7 9 ! & ! 3 Notwithstanding their decay, the medinas car- ! ry a unique significance for the countries of the region and the world, but such significance is not always reflected in urban policies. &$ 6 C a 9 9 a & 4 $ : ! 3 3 # FIG. 5 <b 6 $ Very high urban & 9 density is to be found in the neighborhoods 1874F : of the medina of b > 3 ' ! Damascus (Syria) a > : @9 a a 3 6 7 8 9 ! ! TABLE 1 Cultural World Of which Country Heritage Sites medinas Medinas classified as WHS Medinas inscribed on the World Algeria 6 2 M’Zab valley (five medinas), Kasbah of Algiers Heritage List in Egypt 6 1 Old Cairo North Africa and the Middle East Iran 10 2 Esfahan, Bam Israel 6 1 Acre Lebanon 5 3 Baalbek, Byblos, and Tyre Libya 5 1 Ghadamès Morocco 8 6 Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes, Tétouan, Essaouira, and El Djadida Syria 5 3 Damascus, Bosra, and Aleppo Tunisia 7 3 Tunis, Kairouan, and Sousse Yemen 3 3 Shibam, Sana’a, and Zabid Total 61 25 4 URBAN DEVELOPMENT SERIES – KNOWLEDGE PAPERS Defining contemporary medina users Historic medinas have evolved from self- sufficient cities to becoming central urban cores of much larger urban agglomerations. This has transformed the profile of medina users. 6 3 4 + =& 9 '+ : & 3 $ ! b 3 TABLE 2 Residents of Attractiveness of Medina other National International medina economic Activities Products and services residents neighborhoods visitors tourists activities and Educational Medersas, schools services to different user Health-care Health-care centers groups Commercial Basic products Specialized products Handicrafts Fashion products Souvenirs Hospitality Cafes Restaurants Boutique hotels Entertainment Theatres and cinemas Gaming halls Community centers Cultural Museums Art galleries Cultural centers Religious Mosques Attractiveness Nil Low Moderate High THE URBAN REHABILITATION OF MEDINAS 5 FIG. 6 9 Heritage-related products displayed 9 $ in the medina of a # Essaouira (Morocco) Medina users in the contemporary setting can be classified into four distinct groups. 3-0 >-0 >-0 > -0 7 9 3 + ! 3 3 ! ! 3 ! $ $ 4 4 & ! % FIG. 7 Informal commercial 3 activities in the historic city of Meknes (Morocco) X 3 $ ! & .

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